Bogdan Pecic, Michael Grossi, Pete Ferry

Widely regarded as the most expensive 8mm zombie film ever made, director J.R. Bookwalter's epic masterwork has been fully restored for this release. When a viral epidemic creates a nation full of zom...( read more  read more... )bies, it's up to a government-run Zombie Squad to find a cure -- and keep Americans from catching their death. But when the virus spreads to one of the squad members, his team has to work twice as hard to keep him from decomposing.

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49% liked it

2,222 ratings

Unrated, 75 min.

Directed by: J.R. Bookwalter

Release Date: June 20, 1995

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DVD Release Date: August 9, 2005

Stats: 180 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (180)


  • April 20, 2009
    If you don't like zombie movies, you'd be best off making sure that you never see The Dead Next Door...but if you do like zombie flicks, this might provide some amusement. While the film is never exceptional (even in the low budget zombie sub-genre), it does have some positive as...( read more)pects, which pull it out of the truly abysmal. Despite it's more than obvious low budget, it's clear that the producers of this flick wanted to do some things with the genre that haven't been done before. Of course, by 1988; zombie films had pretty much been explored to the max, but fairly original ideas such as the religious cult that want the zombies protected and the thing with half-human, half-zombie give this film some things to call it's own. The plot is a straight Romero-rip off, and it sees the world being plagued by zombies. We follow a team of government agents calling themselves 'Zombie Squad', whose task it is to, basically, kill zombies. Their job is made more difficult by a cult of religious weirdo's, who strangely think that the zombie is worth saving...

    On the technical side, everything about this film is rubbish. The script is ridiculous, and little gems like "I'm a zombie now" show this. The acting matches the script, and once again is a load of rubbish. Someone called Pete Ferry takes the lead role, and does his best impression of Bruce Campbell. He's not the king of B-movies, but his performance does ensure that it's obvious that this movie isn't to be taken seriously. The closing credit of 'you have just witnessed the awesome talents of:' is a nice touch, and shows that the crew were only having a laugh while making this film. The special effects are gory and disgusting, but also very stupid and impossible to take seriously. Still, they beat lazy effects like those of Resident Evil (the movie) hands down. The way that a lot of the characters have been given horror director names, such as Raimi, shows that the makers are fans of this sort of film, and that fact might even be inspiring if this production wasn't so unprofessional. On the whole, there's no denying that this isn't very good; but on the other hand, it's a decent waste of time and there's definitely something here for zombie fans.
  • April 8, 2009
    The Dead Next Door (1989)

    A fairly ambitious, ultra-violent and ultra-low budget homage to George Romero's zombie films. It was shot on Super 8mm by J.R. Bookwalter in Akron, Ohio aroun...( read more)d 1986; and partially funded by an uncredited Sam Raimi. It has the distinction of being the most expensive Super 8mm film ever produced, clocking in at around $125,000.

    The Dead Next Door (1989)

    The movie follows a "Zombie Squad" in search of a serum that will reverse the zombification process. Along the way, they run into a religious cult led by an insane reverend who's trying to control a commune of the living dead.

    The Dead Next Door (1989)

    One member of the "Zombie Squad, Dr. Moulsson, seems to be modeled after the "Dr. Frankenstein" character in George Romero's DAY OF THE DEAD. The names of most of the characters in the film are blatantly obvious to horror fans: Mr. Raimi, Dr. Savini, Commander Carpenter, King, Romero, Reverend Jones (you get the picture).

    The Dead Next Door (1989)

    The low budget shows, but the film still manages to achieve some great splatter moments; zombie gutmunching; head explosions; gunshot squibs (all the proper ingredients for a zombie film).

    The Dead Next Door (1989)

    There are also some inspired and memorable scenes in the film; zombies trying to get to the White House lawn; zombies popping up in front of the Washington Monument; the opening credits with zombies pulling people out of their cars and causing general mayhem; zombies attacking a "save the zombies" protest group; and a zombie-on-a-leash acting as a "bloodhound". Bruce Campbell also has an uncredited, off-camera, role in the film. He did the voice-over dubbing for the Mr. Raimi character played by Pete Ferry. In short, this is a must for all diehard zombie fans.

    The Dead Next Door (1989)

    How do you know if you'll like DEAD NEXT DOOR? Well, if you find Andrea Bianchi's BURIAL GROUND and Bruno Mattei's HELL OF THE LIVING DEAD a rewarding cinematic experience, then you should certainly enjoy this film. If on the other hand you think the DAWN OF THE DEAD remake and the RESIDENT EVIL films are the ultimate in zombie cinema, you'll probably find this movie cheap, boring, and uninspired.

    The Dead Next Door (1989)
  • September 13, 2006
    Fun zombie movie. Listen closely for the many voices dubbed by Bruce Campbell.
  • January 23, 2009
    The Dead Next Door is one of those movies i found to be so bad its actually good and the only two reasons i think its bad would be wooden acting and the shot on low budget style i think with alittle more this could have been a top notch movie. A scientist creates a virus that onc...( read more)e its released turns people into the living dead yes i know same plot as usual the whole town of akron Ohio goes to the undead fast forward a few years later and the government has created a zombie squad to take them out but they also must fine the last of the serum that might save whats left of mankind in there search they must take on a cult leader and his pack of zombies. Very much worth a watch for that hardcore zombie fan has plenty of gore and zombies to keep you interested
  • May 31, 2007
    The zombie classic you've never heard of. Shot all on consumer super 8, overdubbed dialogue, not great acting. But AMAZING movie,it won't take much time, less than 80 mins.
  • October 24, 2009
    REAL corny zombie flick with lots of gore but kinda boring after awhile
  • July 27, 2009
    Bad acting, cheap effects, well cheesey - great fun!
  • July 22, 2009
    Made by J. R. Bookwalter at the ripe ol' age of 19, this is a perfect example of how the fun of making a movie can translate to the finished product. Crude though it may be, this movie works thanks to an over the top energy that is lacking in many of it's fellow shoesting brethe...( read more)ren. The entire town of Ackron Ohio pitched in to make Bookwalter's demented zombie vision come to life. Bad acting aside, an original storyline, an abundance of gore, a voice over by Bruce Cambell, and the rumored involvment of Sam Raimi gives this movie everthing it needs with plenty of laughs to boot.
  • April 25, 2009
    No thanks - Not interested
  • April 24, 2009
    Al estilo de las de George A Romero, pero sin la majestuocidad de las matanzas y desmembramientos, historia regular.

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